The Assembly (6 x 1hr) follows autistic student journalists as they prepare and interview six of the nation’s biggest names including the Prime Minister.
One of Australia’s most renowned interviewers, Leigh Sales will closely mentor and prepare the students as they learn their craft, research their interviewee of the week and discover how to get underneath spin and soundbites to discover the real person behind the public persona, culminating in an interview which promises to be disarming, fresh and engaging.
With the students all undertaking a specifically designed journalism course delivered by Macquarie University, which is the first of its kind in Australia, The Assembly is being made with full support in place for the student journalists in partnership with: Aspect – Australia’s largest service for people on the autism spectrum, and Bus Stop Films - Australia’s leading social enterprise supporting people with disabilities in film-making.
The Assembly is being produced by HELIUM Pictures for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, with production funding from Screen NSW. Executive produced by showrunner Melissa Maclean, executive produced by Therese Hegarty, HELIUM’s Mark Fennessy and ABC Commissioning Editor, Factual TV Julie Hanna, HELIUM has developed The Assembly for an Australian audience from a format created by Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache, originally produced by KIOSCO.TV & QUAD+TEN, and distributed by CAN’T STOP Media.
Previous international iterations of the format included interviews with President Emmanuel Macron in France, Antonio Banderas in Spain, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Denmark and award-winning actor Michael Sheen appearing in the UK version of The Assembly for the BBC last month.
One of Australia's highest profile journalists and long time host of 7.30 – ABC News, Leigh Sales anchors the ABC's Federal Election and Budget night broadcasts and has interviewed every living Australian Prime Minister, as well as innumerable world leaders and celebrities. In 2012 she was awarded an Order of Australia for her services to journalism.
Leigh Sales highlights the journalists' ability to cut through spin, while Julie Hanna emphasizes its diversity in Australian media. Mark Fennessy sees it as a platform for diverse voices, promising compelling television. Melissa Maclean praises its energy and optimism, stressing the inclusivity of the workplace. Kyas Hepworth applauds the expansion of skills and the importance of inclusivity highlighted by the series.
In photo MARK FENNESSY, Helium - Photo credits: Michelle Grace Hunder
